Archives for December 2015

LOS ANGELES (AP) — It may not seem possible, but Miranda Lambert and Meghan Trainor are Oscar contenders. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced 74 songs on the short list for consideration for the best original song Oscar. Lambert wrote “Two of a Crime” from the film “Hot Pursuit,” and Trainor wrote “Better When I’m Dancin'” from “The Peanuts Movie.” Lady Gaga’s song “Til It Happens To You” from “The Hunting Ground” makes the list. Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth co-wrote “See You Again” from “Furious 7.” Meek Mill is a contender for “Fighting Stronger” from “Creed.” Eminem wrote “Phenomenal” from “Southpaw.” He already has an Oscar for writing “Lose Yourself” from “8 Mile.” The nominations will be announced January 14. The Oscars are February 28.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The top five entertainers who got the most chatter on Facebook in 2015 were all singers. Ed Sheeran was the top entertainer discussed on Facebook in the past year. Taylor Swift was second, with Kanye West in third. Reggaeton singer Nicky Jam was number four, and Wiz Khalifa was fifth.

NEW YORK (AP) — New York’s attorney general is asking why there are Bruce Springsteen tickets up for resale before they’re up for sale. Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has requested more information from resale sites StubHub, TicketNetwork and Vivid Seats about offering tickets to Springsteen’s upcoming tour. Springsteen tickets go on sale tomorrow, but resale sites are already offering seats for as much as $5,000. A TicketNetwork spokesman says the company has voluntarily taken down Springsteen listings until Friday. Vivid Seats says it has a goal of ensuring a positive ticket-buying experience. StubHub says it’s reviewing Schneiderman’s letter but it does not believe it has “speculative tickets” on its site.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Michael Buble’ was going to set his Christmas special this year in Hawaii and thought better of it. Buble’ says NBC loved the idea but he realized there are not many Hawaiian Christmas songs. Buble’ chose Los Angeles, because he thought he could give it a different look. He’s done previous specials in New York and in British Columbia. Guests for this year’s show include Celine Dion, Blake Shelton and William Shatner. Buble’ says he tries to bring out the best for his specials, and if you notice one year he isn’t doing one, it’s because he didn’t feel it was the best he could do. “Michael Buble’s Christmas in Hollywood” airs tonight on NBC.

LONDON (AP) — The Indian retreat where The Beatles wrote most of the “White Album” has opened for tourists. The BBC reports the abandoned spiritual retreat in the town of Rishikesh had fallen into disrepair and was taken over by the local forestry department. Beatles fans would sneak in by bribing the gatekeeper or climbing the walls. It’s now been restored and foreign visitors pay about $10.50 for admission. The Beatles went there in 1968 to study with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The gravestone marking B.B. King’s final resting place will be unveiled Friday. King is buried outside the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in his hometown of Indianola, Mississippi. The marker will be black granite engraved with King’s signature. His grave is in a courtyard that eventually will be surrounded by walls that will have panels with his song titles and slats to allow breezes.

LONDON (AP) — Some of the members of Pentatonix knew as youngsters they wanted to become musicians, while others were adults when they figured it out. Scott Hoying says he knew from the time he was 5 or 6. Mitch Grassi says he was a music nerd in middle school and that’s when he decided he wanted to make music for a living. Avi Kaplan says he was in high school when he saw a college choir and realized he wanted to be like them. Kirstin Maldonado says when she got to college, she realized she’d rather be a starving but happy singer than successful and miserable as anything else. Kevin Olusola had to convince his parents that music was his path in life. He was a pre-med student and they were big on academics, but Olusola says he’s never regretted his decision.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Fleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood’s divorce has been finalized. Court records show a judge granted his divorce from Lynn Frankel Fleetwood on November 20. They were married for 20 years. The judgment does not say how they will divide assets, who will get custody of their 13-year-old twin daughters or if child support will be paid.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ed Sheeran says he wasn’t expecting any Grammy nominations and he offers his thanks. “Thinking Out Loud” is up for record of the year, up against “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars, “Really Love” by D’Angelo and the Vanguard, “Blank Space” by Taylor Swift and “Can’t Feel My Face” by The Weeknd. “Thinking Out Loud” is also up for song of the year and best solo pop performance. Sheeran could also win for album of the year but not for his own album. He’s eligible because he’s a featured artist on The Weeknd’s “Beauty Behind The Madness” album.

UNDATED (AP) — Meghan Trainor says she was crying all day yesterday after finding out she was nominated for the best new artist Grammy. She’s up against James Bay, Tori Kelly, Sam Hunt and Courtney Barnett. Hunt says he’s so grateful and it’s been “just the most amazing year.” Kelly writes on Instagram her heart is heavy and she’s speechless at being nominated. The Grammys are February 15 in Los Angeles.